Pressure washing system and method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a system and method for operating a surface pressure washer with a wand component. The method may include the steps of cleaning a first surface through a first fluid path, where the first fluid path includes a pump, a pressure regulating valve, a diversion block, and a spray gun, while spray nozzles are not discharging fluid to a second surface, actuating a valve connected to the diversion block, thereby reducing the pressure available to the first fluid path and creating a second fluid path, where the second fluid path includes the pump, the pressure regulating valve, the diversion block and the spray nozzles, where the spray nozzles are configured to rotate above the second surface when the second fluid path is open, and cleaning a second surface underneath the pressure washer system through the second fluid path.

BACKGROUND Field

This invention is generally related to pressure washer systems andmethods, and more particularly to a system and method for operating asurface pressure washer with a spray gun component.

Background

Pressure washing systems in the past have suffered from the lack of anefficient and cost effective system and method for preventing damage tosurfaces underneath the system, when a spray gun component is used toclean a second surface that is not underneath the system. Therefore,there is a need for a new and improved system and method for operating asurface pressure washer with a spray gun component.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a new and improved system and method for operating apressure washer with a spray gun component. In accordance with oneaspect of the approach, a pressure washer system may include a pump, apressure regulating valve, a diversion block, where the pump provides afluid to the diversion block, a spray gun, a first fluid path, where thefirst fluid path includes the pump, the pressure regulating valve, thediversion block, and the spray gun, a valve, a valve trigger, a triggerbase that pivotally secures the valve trigger to position the valvetrigger to actuate the valve when the valve trigger pivots about thetrigger base, a rotary nozzle system, where the actuation of the valvecreates a second fluid path, where the second fluid path includes thepump, the pressure regulating valve, the diversion block, the valve andthe rotary nozzle system, and wherein the rotary nozzle system includesone or more rotating spray nozzles when the second fluid path is open,wherein the second fluid path is blocked when the valve is not actuated.

In accordance with another aspect of the approach, a method of washingflat surfaces and surfaces adjacent to the flat surface may include thesteps of cleaning a first surface that is not underneath a pressurewasher pressure through a first fluid path, where the first fluid pathincludes a pump, a pressure regulating valve, a diversion block, and aspray gun, while spray nozzles are not discharging fluid to a secondsurface, actuating a valve connected to the diversion block, therebyreducing the pressure available to the first fluid path and creating asecond fluid path, where the second fluid path includes the pump, thepressure regulating valve, the diversion block and the spray nozzles,where the spray nozzles are configured to rotate above the secondsurface when the second fluid path is open, and cleaning a secondsurface underneath the pressure washer system through the second fluidpath.

Other systems, methods, aspects, features, embodiments and advantages ofthe system and method for operating a pressure washer with a wandcomponent disclosed herein will be, or will become, apparent to onehaving ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the followingdrawings and detailed description. It is intended that all suchadditional systems, methods, aspects, features, embodiments andadvantages be included within this description, and be within the scopeof the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is to be understood that the drawings are solely for purpose ofillustration. Furthermore, the components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the system disclosed herein. In the figures, likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 is a view of a pressure washing apparatus, including a deckhousing, a rotary nozzle system, right and left front wheel mechanisms,a rear wheel mechanism, a handle, and a diversion system.

FIG. 2 is fluid flow diagram that may apply to the pressure washingapparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the underside of the deck housing of FIG. 1 thatincludes portions of the rotary nozzle system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the right and left front wheel mechanismsof FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of an alternative front wheel mechanism thatmay be used with the pressure washing apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is an exploded view of an additional alternative front wheelmechanism that may be used with the pressure washing apparatus of FIG.1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the deck housing of FIG. 1 and portions ofthe rotary nozzle system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the rear wheel mechanism of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an isolated view of the handle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an isolated view of the diversion system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the pressure washing apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description, which references to and incorporatesthe drawings, describes and illustrates one or more specificembodiments. These embodiments, offered not to limit but only toexemplify and teach, are shown and described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice what is claimed. Thus, forthe sake of brevity, the description may omit certain information knownto those of skill in the art.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary pressure washing apparatus 100. The apparatus100 may include a deck housing 102, a power source 104, a right frontwheel mechanism 106 a, a left front wheel mechanism 106 b, a rear wheelmechanism 107, a handle 108, a pump 110, a pressure regulating valve111, a diversion system 112, a spray gun 114, and a rotary nozzle system116. The deck housing 102 partially covers, and may support, the rotarynozzle system 116. The deck housing may also include a gun terminalholder 118, and a splash guard 120. The pressure washing apparatus mayalso include fluid lines, such as, but not limited to, a PRV todiversion block fluid line 122, and a diversion block to rotary nozzlesystem fluid line 124.

Pressure washing apparatus 100 may be employed to wash a first flatsurface (not shown) beneath the apparatus 100, and to quickly wash areasof a second surface (not shown) that may be adjacent to or located nearthe flat surface beneath the apparatus 100, such as corners and verticalsurfaces. Pump 110 may provide, but is not limited to, 1000 PSI and aflow of 3.6 to 6 GPM. The diversion system 112 provides a means fordiverting the flow and pressure from the spray gun 114 to the rotarynozzle system 116 only when needed to clean the flat surface beneath theapparatus 100. Thus, providing means for preventing over cleaning, anddamage, to the first flat surface while the pressure washing apparatus100 is employed to clean the second surface.

Deck housing 102 may be formed from materials such as, but not limitedto spun aluminum, steel, and stamped metal. The housing 102 isgenerally, but is not limited to, a circular shape as shown in FIG. 1.Power source 104 may be, but is not limited to, a residential,commercial, and industrial grade engine the may use fuel, such as, butnot limited to, gasoline, electricity, diesel propane, and compressedgas. Pump 110 pressurizes fluid that is supplied to the apparatus 100.Pressure regulating valve 111 may be adjustable by twisting an outercover portion of the valve 111 to control, and limit, the pressurizedfluid discharged from the pump 110.

Spray gun 114 may be, but is not limited to, an aluminum lance typesystem, known to those having ordinary skill in the art, that permitsfluid to pass through the device from the handle towards the end of thespray gun 114, the end of the spray gun 114 being located in FIG. 1,resting in the gun terminal holder 118. Spray gun 114 may include parts,such as but not limited to, those available from Giant Industries, Inc.,of Toledo, Ohio, and identified by Part No. 21290C. Gun terminal holder118 may be constructed from materials such as, but not limited to,steel, rubber, and plastic. Gun terminal holder may be formed to conformto the shape of the end of the spray gun 114, and may be secured to thedeck housing 102, to keep the spray gun 114 secure when it is not inuse. Splash guard 120 may prevent fluid expelled from the rotary nozzlesystem 116, and debris dislodged from the flat surface, from striking auser of the apparatus 100. The PRV to diversion block fluid line 122 mayrun from the pressure regulating valve 111 to the diversion system 112.Diversion block to rotary nozzle system fluid line 124 may run from thediversion system 112 to the rotating union 604 (see FIG. 6) of therotary nozzle system 116.

FIG. 2 shows a fluid flow diagram 200 that may apply to the pressurewashing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1. Fluid flow diagram 200 includes a fluidsupply line 202, the pump 110, a pump to PRV line 204, the pressureregulating valve 111, the PRV to diversion block fluid line 122, aconnector 206, a diversion block 208, an elbow connector 210, thediversion block to rotary nozzle system fluid line 124, the rotarynozzle system 116, a reducer 212, a valve 214, a valve trigger 216, atrigger base, 218, a connector 220, a shut off valve 222, a valve handle224, a fluid line 226, and the spray gun 114. The portions of FIG. 2shown inside the dotted line may be included in the diversion system112.

Fluid supply line 202 may supply fluid, such as, but not limited to,water and a water cleaning solution mixture, to pump 110. Connector 206and connector 210 may be, but are not limited to, the elbow typeconnectors 206 and 210 shown in FIG. 9. For example, connector 206 maybe a 45 degree street elbow ⅜ inch that may be formed from materialssuch as, but not limited to, stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic.Diversion block 208 may be, but is not limited to, the metallic typeblock shown in FIG. 9, in which the three ports shown are joined(internal connection not shown) in the diversion block 208, and thethree ports may be threaded. Reducer 212 may be, but is not limited tothe reducer 212 shown in FIG. 9, in which the reducer 212 is a ⅜ inch×¼inch reducing nipple. Valve 214 may be, but is not limited to, valve 214of FIG. 9, in which the valve 214 is a brass hollowed body that includesa valve seat (not shown) such as that available from Giant Industries,Inc., and identified by Part No. 21007LA, that may be secured with avalve cap, such as the valve cap 906 (see FIG. 9). Trigger base 218 maybe formed to permit fluid passage through itself while forming a cradlefor a valve handle 902, such as shown in FIG. 9, in order to permit thevalve handle 902 to depress the valve trigger 216. The trigger base 218may include one or more holes to permit a fastener, such as trigger pin908 (see FIG. 9) to retain the valve handle 902 in a location thatenables it to depress the valve trigger 216. Connector 220 may be aconnector such as, but not limited to, the type shown in FIG. 9, inwhich connector 220 is a 45 degree street elbow ¼ inch to ¼ inch thatmay be formed from materials such as, but not limited to, brass,stainless steel, aluminum. Shut off valve 222 may be, but is not limitedto, a two-way valve having a handle 224 that allows fluid to be cut-offfrom the spray gun 114. Fluid line 226 may provide a removable fluidpath from the diversion system 112 to the spray gun 114. Fluid line 226may include a quick disconnect feature known to those having skill inthe art.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the underside of deck housing 102 and a bottomportion 116 a of the rotary nozzle system 116. The rotary nozzle system116 may include a swivel fasteners 302, a spray bar 304, and one or morespray nozzles 306. Swivel fasteners 302 may be, but are not limited to,four hex nuts that may secure the rotary nozzle system 116 to the deck102. Spray bar 304 may be, but is not limited to, a tubular extensionthat may be threaded and may be formed from materials such as, but notlimited to steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, that may be attached tothe rotating union 604 (see FIG. 6). One or more spray nozzles 306 maybe placed on the end(s) of the spray bar 304 and may be mounted at 45degrees from vertical in order to cause the spray bar 304 to rotate whenfluid is passed through the spray bar 304. The discharge from the spraynozzles 306 may also clean the flat surface under the apparatus 100.Spray nozzles 306 may be formed from materials that include, but are notlimited to, stainless steel.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the right front wheel mechanism 106 aand the left front wheel mechanism 106 b. The right front wheelmechanism 106 a may include a right arm caster 402 a. The left frontwheel mechanism 106 b may include a left arm caster 402 b. The wheelmechanisms 106 a and 106 b may also include an outer yoke 404, an inneryoke 406, a wheel 408, a plurality of caster mounting bolts 410, aplurality of lock nuts 412, a retaining pin 414, a pull pin 416, acompression spring 418, a washer 420, a fastener 422, a lock washer 424,a washer 426, a grease fitting 428, a retaining ring 430, a lockingcotter 432, a box tie 434, an axle bolt 436, an axle lock nut 438, andan axle sleeve 440.

Wheel mechanisms 106 a and 106 b allow for cleaning edges of thesurface, while allowing the pressure washing apparatus 100 to remainlevel on the surface. Right arm caster 402 a and left arm caster 402 bmay be formed from materials that include powder coated steel and may besecured to the deck 102 with fasteners such as, but not limited to,caster mounting bolts 410 and lock nuts 412. Outer yokes 404, may bestainless steel housing with an internally threaded weldment shaftattaches to arm casters 402 a and 402 b using fastener components suchas, but not limited to fastener 422, lock washer 424 and washer 426.Outer yoke 404 may slide over a portion of inner yoke 406 to provide anadjustable height for right front wheel mechanism 106 a and left frontwheel mechanism 106 b. The box tie 434 and locking cotter 71 may beformed from material such as, but not limited to, steel, aluminum andbrass. Wheel 408 may be, but is not limited to an 8 inch diameterno-flat wheel and may be formed from rubber to reduce vibration. Pullpin 416 may insert into caster guide 403 and may provide alocking/retaining mechanism through a quarter turn of the retaining pinafter insertion into the caster guide 403. Retaining pin 414 may be amechanical tension pin that expands into the pull pin 416. Compressionspring 418 may provide tension for locking/retaining mechanism inconjunction with the retaining pin 414, pull pin 416, and washer 420.The retaining pin 414, pull pin 416, compression spring 418 and washer420 may be used on both wheel mechanisms 106 a and 106 b, or on only oneof the wheel mechanisms 106 a and 106 b. The retaining ring 430 may be acircular metal piece that holds the retaining pin 414 in place. The axlebolt 436 may be, but is not limited to, a 5/16 inch by 2% inch roundhead square neck bolt that provides axle support for wheel 408, whichmay be secured by lock nut 438.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of an alternative front wheel mechanism 500that may be used with the pressure washing apparatus 100. Thealternative front wheel mechanism 500 may include a center wheel bracket502, and a caster wheel 504. The center wheel bracket may be secured tothe deck housing 102 with a plurality of fasteners 506, using aplurality of holes 508, a plurality of washers 510, and a plurality ofnuts 512. FIG. 5A also shows that splash guard 102 may be secured todeck housing 102 using a plurality of fasteners 514.

FIG. 5B is an exploded view of an additional alternative front wheelmechanism 515 that may be used with the pressure washing apparatus ofFIG. 1. Additional alternative front wheel mechanism 515 may include acenter wheel mount 516 that may be secured to deck housing 102 using oneor more center fasteners 506, one or more holes 508, and one or morewashers 518.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the deck housing 102 and a top portion 116b of the rotary nozzle system 116 that may be connected to the diversionblock to rotary nozzle fluid line 124. The top portion 116 b may includea rotating union 604 secured to the deck housing 102 using a pluralityof lock nuts 606, a plurality of bolts 608, a plurality of holes 610,and a mounting plate 614. Also shown in FIG. 6 is a plurality of holes610 that may be used to mount the handle 108 and a plurality of holes612 that may be used to mount the power source 104.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the rear wheel mechanism 107. Rear wheelmechanism 107 may include a splash guard 702, a wheel housing 704, anaxle 706, a one or more rear wheels 708. The splash guard 702 may besecured to the wheel housing 704 using a plurality of fasteners 710. Aguard strip 712 may be secured to the splash guard 702. The wheels 708may be secured to the axle 709 using one or more hex nuts 714, and oneor more washers 716. The wheel housing may be adjustably secured to thedeck housing 102 using one or more lock nuts 718 and one or more capscrews 720, such that a height adjustment bracket 722, shown in greaterdetail as 722 a, with oblong holes, may allow for the height of the rearof the housing deck 102 to be adjusted. Cap screws 720 may be, but arenot limited to ¼ inch by 1.5 inches, and lock nuts 718 may be, but arenot limited to, ¼ inch stainless steel. Fasteners 710 may be, but arenot limited to pop rivets. Rear wheel mechanism 107 may be heightadjustable and may be powder coated steel.

FIG. 8 is an isolated view of the handle 108. Handle 108 may include alower portion 802 and an upper portion 804, that are collapsiblyattached by a pair of hinges 806. Upper portion 804 may include amounting plate 807, and a plurality of spray tip holders 808 for spraytips (not shown) for spray gun 114. Upper portion 804 may also include ssocket cap and bolt(s) 810, a diversion arm stop 812, and a holster 814.The hinges 806 may be secured to the upper portion 804 and lower portion802 using fasteners 816 and 818. The lower portion 802 may be secured tothe deck housing 102 using lock nuts 822 and handle mounting bolts 820.A pair of tube caps 824 may be secured to an opening in the lowerportion 802. The socket cap and bolts(s) 810 may be used to secure thediversion system 112 to the upper portion of the handle 804. Diversionarm stop 812 prevents the valve handle 902 from falling too far forwardwhen the valve arm 902 is pushed away from the operator in order topermit the fluid to flow to the rotary nozzle system 116. Holster 814secures the spray gun 114 when it is not in use.

FIG. 9 is an isolated view of the diversion system 112. The diversionsystem may include the connector 206, the diversion block 208, the elbowconnector 210, the reducer 212, the valve 214, the valve trigger 216,the trigger base 218, the connector 220, a valve handle 902, a socketcap 904, a cap 906, a trigger pin 908, and a grip 910. The valve handle902 may be pushed forward by the operator, forward being towards theengine and away from the upper portion 804 of the handle 108, in orderto engage the valve trigger 216, which allows the fluid to flow from thediversion block 208 to the connector 220, and then to the spray gun 114.Although shown as a bar bent at approximately 90 degrees, valve handle902 may also be employed as a foot pedal or a handle bar, as long ascomplementary parts are provided in order to allow for the activation ofvalve trigger 216 with the movement of valve handle 902. Cap 906 maysecure the internal components (not shown) of the valve 214. Trigger pin908 pivotally secures the valve handle 902 to the valve 214.

Although FIG. 9 shows various exemplar components of the diversionsystem 112, those skilled in the art will recognize that other forms ofthe components may serve the various functions contemplated by thecomponents shown in FIG. 9, and the flow diagram 200 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the pressure washing apparatus 100. FIG. 10provides an additional view of the deck housing 102, the power source104, the rear wheel mechanism 107, the handle 108, the pump 110, thepressure regulating valve 11 l, the PRV to diversion block fluid line122, the diversion block to rotary nozzle system fluid line 124, thediversion block 208, the shut off valve 222, the valve handle 224, thewheel 408, the rear wheels 708, the fasteners 710, the guard strip 712,the washers 716, the lower handle portion 802, the upper handle portion804, the hinges 806, the spray tip holders 808, the valve handle 902,and the grip 910.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or variant described hereinas “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments or variants. All of the embodimentsand variants described in this description are exemplary embodiments andvariants provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make and usethe invention, and not necessarily to limit the scope of legalprotection afforded the appended claims.

The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enableany person skilled in the art to make or use that which is defined bythe appended claims. The following claims are not intended to be limitedto the disclosed embodiments. Other embodiments and modifications willreadily occur to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of theseteachings. Therefore, the following claims are intended to cover allsuch embodiments and modifications when viewed in conjunction with theabove specification and accompanying drawings. All such modificationsand variations are intended to be included herein within the scope ofthis disclosure and protected by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pressure washer system having a handle forpushing the system, comprising: a pump; a pressure regulating valve; adiversion block, where the pump provides a fluid to the diversion block;a spray gun; a first fluid path, where the first fluid path includes thepump, the pressure regulating valve, the diversion block, and the spraygun; a fluid valve; a valve handle positioned to actuate a valvetrigger; a trigger base that pivotally secures the valve handle toposition the valve trigger to actuate the fluid valve when the valvehandle pivots about the trigger base, such that the fluid valve may beactuated by pulling a horizontal portion of the valve handle toward ahorizontal portion of a system handle connected to a deck housing forpushing the system without an operator's hands moving from the systemhandle; and a rotary nozzle system, where the actuation of the fluidvalve creates a second fluid path, where the second fluid path includesthe pump, the pressure regulating valve, the diversion block, the fluidvalve and the rotary nozzle system, and wherein the rotary nozzle systemincludes one or more rotating spray nozzles when the second fluid pathis open, wherein the second fluid path is blocked when the fluid valveis not actuated.
 2. The pressure washer system of claim 1, where thefluid pressure available to the first fluid path is reduced when thefluid valve is actuated.
 3. A method of washing flat surfaces andsurfaces adjacent to the flat surface, the method including the stepsof: cleaning a first surface that is not underneath a pressure washerpressure through a first fluid path actuated by a valve handlepositioned external to a fluid valve, where the first fluid pathincludes a pump, a pressure regulating valve, a diversion block, and aspray gun, while spray nozzles are not discharging fluid to a secondsurface; actuating the fluid valve connected to the diversion block,thereby reducing the pressure available to the first fluid path andcreating a second fluid path, where the second fluid path includes thepump, the pressure regulating valve, the diversion block and the spraynozzles, where the spray nozzles are configured to rotate above thesecond surface when the second fluid path is open, and the second fluidpath may be actuated without the operator's hands moving from a systemhandle connected to a deck housing, by pulling a grip toward ahorizontal portion of the system handle for pushing the system; andcleaning a second surface underneath the pressure washer system throughthe second fluid path.